AFTER being allied with the Liberal Party during the last elections, the Alayon Party of the first district of Cebu Province is again with another party.

This time, they’ve coalesced with Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) made the announcement during the oath-taking of newly-elected leaders in the district under the Alayon Party in the City of Naga yesterday.

But Gullas denied that his group is practicing turncoatism to advance their interest.

“Daghan nag-ingon nga unsa man na si Samsam? Nibalimbing na man. Pero paistoryaha ko ninyo. Ang balimbing kanang pagkita nila nga ang ilang kandidato dili makadaog, ultima ora mobalhin. Pero kita sa Alayon, four percent pa si Boss Mar (Roxas), naabot na lang og 23 porsyento duol sa eleksyon, wala gyod ta mobiya (We never left Mar Roxas during the election),” Gullas said.

In his message before his allies, the newly reelected legislator said Alayon’s alliance with Duterte was due to the coalition bid signed by PDP-Laban and Nacionalista Party of former senator Manny Villar.

Alayon is a sister party of NP.

Alayon’s alliance with the soon-to-be ruling party came almost a month after the 2016 elections.

Advantage

But Gullas said the coalition between NP and PDP-Laban could serve as an advantage for the first district, especially in terms of priority projects.

He said it was fortunate for the group that Villar’s son and Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar was appointed by Duterte to lead the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Nalipay ko naghunahuna nga ang atong umaabot nga secretary sa DPWH taga NP gyod. Pasabot ana nga isip ako nga inyong congressman, bisag wala kadaog ang atong presidente, basin ubay-ubay gihapon nga mga proyekto ang akong mahatog ninyo (This means there will still be many projects that I can give you),” Gullas said.

Meeting

During their meeting with Villar, Gullas and other congressmen allied with NP agreed to support the bid for House Speaker of Davao del Norte representative-elect Pantaleon Alvarez.

But despite the recent shift, Gullas said they never backed down on their support for Roxas during the elections.

During the activity in the City of Naga yesterday, Gullas administered the oaths of six mayors, five vice mayors and their slates.

Present during the oath taking ceremony were the congressman’s grandfather, Talisay City Mayor-elect Eduardo Gullas, Minglanilla mayor-elect Elanito Peña, City of Naga Mayor-elect Kristine Vanessa Chiong, San Fernando mayor-elect Lakambini Reluya, Carcar City Mayor-elect Nicepuro Apura and Sibonga mayor-elect Caroline Bacaltos.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Enan Chiong Activity Center (ECAC) in Barangay South Poblacion.